Missouri Photo Workshop Coming to Sedalia September 24

Sedalia has been chosen as the site of the 2023 Missouri Photo Workshop, which will take place Sept. 24 – 30.

The workshop is a project of the University of Missouri Journalism School and members of its Photojournalism Department.

This is the 75th year for the project, it was noted by Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson during his presentation Friday to the Pettis County Pachyderm Club at the Heckart Community Center, 1800 W. 3rd Street.

“The workshop will focus on telling the stories of the community, using the skills and methods taught by the faculty of the photojournalism department of the Walter Williams School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Those participating in the workshop will be students, faculty, and internationally-recognized photojournalists from such publications as The National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post and LIFE Magazine,” Dawson said in a prepared statement.

“It's a great opportunity for Sedalia to document life in 2023 and contrast that with life in Sedalia in 1980,” he said, when the workshop was last held here.

The Missouri Photo Workshop was founded in 1949 by the late Clifton C. Edmon, MU School of Journalism. Edmon promoted research, observation and timing as the methods to make strong photos that tell a story.

Faculty members have been many of America's leading newspaper and magazine photographers and photo editors; a roster of faculty and students reads like a Who's Who of photojournalism. Faculty of today includes some of the most energetic, productive, and articulate documentarians currently working.

All are experts dedicated to passing on the fundamentals of photo research, shooting, and editing to those who hope to carry on these values and techniques in the future.

The workshop still follows Cliff Edom's credo: "Show truth with a camera. Ideally, truth is a matter of personal integrity. In no circumstances will a posed or faked photo be tolerated."

Key local community members involved in securing the event for Sedalia (and Pettis County) included:
Ebby Norman, Pro-Velo Bicycle Shop Owner

Kevin Lujin, KLUE Image Services Owner

Andrew Dawson, Mayor of Sedalia

Amy Epple, Sedalia Parks & Recreation Director

Garry Holstein, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art Director

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Key leaders of the Missouri Photo Workshop at the University of Missouri School of Journalism include:

Brian Kratzer- Director of Photography, Associate Professor, Photojournalism, Co-Director Missouri Photo Workshop

Jim Curley- Professor Emeritus, Co-Director of the Missouri Photo Workshop, and member of the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame

David Rees- O. O. McIntyre Distinguished Professor at the University Missouri School of Journalism (now Emeritus), former Photojournalism Faculty Chair, Co-Director of the Missouri Photo Workshop, member of Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame

The Missouri Photo Workshop was last held in Sedalia in 1980.